Echoes of Addiction: From Silence to Sound

Read Time:3 Minute, 58 Second

TV SERIES REVIEW
The Cocaine Fiends / The Pace That Kills (Forbidden Fruit: The Golden Age of the Exploitation Picture Vol. 16)
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Genre: Drama, Mystery
Year Released: 1935 / 1928
Runtime: 1h 3m / 1h 4m
Director(s): William A. O'Connor, Norton S. Parker
Writer(s): Ruth Todd
Cast: Lois January, Sheila Bromley, Noel Madison, Owen Gorin, Thelma Daniels, Florence Turner
Where To Watch: available July 30, 2024; pre-order here www.kinolorber.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release invites audiences into a dark exploration of urban decay and addiction with the restorations of THE PACE THAT KILLS and THE COCAINE FIENDS. These films, pillars of pre-Code cinema, offer a gritty glimpse into the dangers lurking within the early 20th-century cityscape, making them crucial viewing for anyone interested in the evolution of film as a tool for social commentary. These propaganda films help to define what pre-code films really were and what they could get away with.

THE PACE THAT KILLS, initially released in 1928, directs its lens at Eddie Bradley (Owen Gorin,) a naive country boy whose search for a better life in the city leads him down a path of ruin. The film is an unsettling journey through the underbelly of urban life, where Eddie, drawn by the allure of relief from his struggles, falls prey to the “demonic forces” of drug abuse. His descent into despair is not just a personal tragedy but a reflection of the broader societal issues of the time. The silent movie’s stark black-and-white visuals enhance the thematic darkness, while Virginia Roye as Fanny O'Reilly adds a haunting depth to the narrative.

Moving forward to 1935, THE COCAINE FIENDS revisits the story with the technological advancement of sound, amplifying the emotional gravity of the tale. This version re-centers the story around Jane Bradford (Lois January,) a small-town girl who, like Eddie, is seduced by the false promises of city life. Her harrowing fall into addiction, paralleled by her brother’s misfortunes, paints a broader stroke on the canvas of drug addiction’s impact. Sound enriches the storytelling, making the characters’ downfalls resonate with a greater sense of realism and immediacy.

These films are more than mere entertainment; they serve as historical documents that provide insight into the filmmaking techniques of their times and societal responses to the pressing issues of drug addiction. Ernest Laszlo’s cinematography in THE PACE THAT KILLS captures the era's anxiety with each frame, turning simple sets into powerful visual narratives.

The Blu-ray release brings these influential films into the present day with 4K restorations on Blu-ray that allow viewers to experience the detailed artistry and compelling storytelling of early cinema. This release is not just about watching movies; it's an educational tool that bridges the past and present, highlighting societal issues that continue to resonate.

Kino Lorber's restoration of these films offers a valuable window into the past, presenting them as crucial pieces of cinematic history that continue to inform and educate on the human condition and societal challenges. These are two very different yet very similar films, both offering distinct benefits over the other. I need to do some diving because if this is volume 16, I can’t imagine what came before!

Product Extras:
Audio commentary for The Cocaine Fiends (1935) by Eric Schaefer, author of Bold! Daring! Shocking! True!: A History of Exploitation Films
Audio commentary for The Pace That Kills (1928) by film historian Anthony Slide
The Cocaine Fiends 1973 re-release trailer
Gallery of exploitation trailers

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER]

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